Sometimes we get trapped in the rat race of daily life and we’ve got a lot going on. Sometimes we’re afraid of breaking routines and missing nap times (or bedtimes) for fear that doing something different or out of the ordinary could result in tired kids or tantrums. However, there are so many reasons to break out of the typical routine and schedule quality family time!
So, put down the phones and tablets, turn off the TV and forget about the chores. Gather some fun ideas instead and reap the benefits of quality family time!
Here are 10 reasons why scheduling quality family time is a must:
1. Make new memories.
This one goes without saying, but doing activities that are out of the ordinary or special, results in some great family memories. This inadvertently creates happiness! Since these events are special, unique, and infrequent, they stand out in your bank of memories. Explore your yard with a magnifying glass, go on a treasure hunt or take a hike under the stars! There are also creative ways to preserve your memories! As a family, when you experience something outside your comfort zone, the memory truly lasts a lifetime.
2. Expend energy through quality family time.
For the little ones who need to burn some energy for a good night’s sleep, what a better way to do it than spending a day at an amusement park, a local children’s museum, or even just the park! Running, walking, climbing, and playing are all great ways to spend quality family time together and expend energy simultaneously. Make sure you plan ahead and bring lots of snacks and water to refuel your little ones!
Not only are you allowing your little ones to get all the wiggles and energy out in a positive, family-oriented way, but you’re also giving your family dedicated physical activity time when you choose to do something active!
Maybe your family time is hiking, renting some kayaks to explore your local waterway, or going for a bike ride on a trail. Combining your quality family fun time with physical activity is the BEST way to bond and increase physical activity.
3. Reduce screen time.
Sometimes getting out of the house isn’t possible, so think about doing a special indoor activity like crafting or breaking out the board games to get your kids off their devices. You could even make it a full-on staycation! Screens can have their purpose, but we all know that we can fall into the trap of spending too much time in front of them as well, so family fun is a great escape.
Minimizing screen time and increasing quality family time have some undeniable benefits. Your kiddos have the opportunity to develop new skills, learn something new, increase confidence and have fun!
4. Create family traditions.
Scheduling activities that can ultimately become a tradition is a great way to create excitement and something for the whole family to look forward to. A family Thanksgiving activity, the local Christmas festival, or the annual beach trip are fantastic family traditions that parents and kids alike can look forward to every year.
It’s fun to continue with your family’s traditions from when you were a kid but also to create new ones with your own family. Think of yearly, monthly, or even weekly traditions that will create lasting memories. Some of our favorites include:
- Monthly Family Movie Night: with popcorn and special beverages, of course!
- Taco Tuesday Night: let the kids make their own tacos by creating a taco bar.
- An annual summertime water destination trip: whether it’s the lake, ocean, river, or pool, a water trip in the summer is a family must.
- Game night: Monopoly, Life, or Checkers! (did you know that playing board games increases brain function, encourages problem-solving, and develops critical thinking skills? Sounds like a parenting win to us!)
5. Build better communication & trust.
Spending quality family time together doing an activity creates a common interest, something to have conversations and discussions about and come to agreements on. This helps with communication among the family and building mutual trust. Children learn important communication and collaboration skills that will carry them throughout life!
In other words, quality family time = emotional bonding. Which is a huge life skill that is important to develop early on. So have all the fun you want because you’re pretty much helping your little person become an emotionally strong communicator. And that’s a parenting win if you ask us!
PS: Take turns picking out the family activity you’ll do together each time. That way, not only are you building trust, communication, and respect in your family unit, but you’re also learning about each other’s independent interests! Your kids will love showing you what they love.
6. Live in the moment.
Skip the chores, housework, and homework and have some family fun—with a purpose! All that stuff can wait for another day. It’s not going anywhere! But you know what, can’t wait? Taking the kiddos to the yearly apple festival or going to the town’s Christmas light parade.
And guess what? Living in the moment and being “present” is a huge stress reliever, no matter your age. This is a great way for you to destress alongside your little ones (who, unfortunately, can also experience stress!). You’ll be showing them how to deal with stress and anxiety in a healthy way, which is a life skill that is priceless, amiright? LOL.
But in all seriousness, when you teach your kiddos to live in the moment, they are more likely to do it on their own as well! Being present and mindful is a great way to maintain a healthy attitude, get rid of some negative thoughts, and ease anxiety. And who wouldn’t want to do that as a family?!
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- A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning the Ultimate Family Vacation
- Family Road Trip Survival Guide
- BabyQuip Baby Gear Rentals: How to Get Started
7. Develop show & tell content.
When the kids are at school, and they have to bring something for show and tell or need to tell a story about a family memory, they’ll have something to say/show! The souvenir from the visit to the zoo, or the memories of hiking the trails at the state park and seeing waterfalls all make great stories and things to show at school! One of our favorite show and tell items: is some sort of food from the destination you visited. Your kiddo can share all about their experience, and the entire class can enjoy a treat! (Keep in mind any food rules or allergies in the classroom.)
8. Meet new people.
Doing fun things together as a family is a great way to meet other families with similar interests and make new friends. Moms and dads can find new parent friends, and kids can find peers that share their interests too. We can always use more people in our village! You could head to your local library for storytime, explore your local nature center or habitat, check out a local children’s museum or perhaps check out some of the family events at your church!
Not only is it great to build new friendships and relationships as a family, but you’ll also be exposing your little ones to new cultures and communities when you engage with others. Win, win!
9. Increase academic performance through quality family time.
Family time has some great benefits to your child’s academic performance too! Quality family time increases confidence and security in kiddos, which means they feel confident, engaged, and secure throughout all aspects of their life…including school! They’ll also be able to apply all of their family experiences and memories to their academics. You heard it from us—having fun as a family can help the kids do well in school!
The more quality family time you have, the more family fun you’ll want to have. Getting out and doing things together as a family and having fun, then reliving those memories once you’re back home with stories and pictures makes you want to go out and start all over again with your next family adventure!
If you need a little help with unique family activity ideas, check out these fun ideas on Pinterest!
Have fun family activities your crew loves? Share them with us in the comments below!
Hello! My name is Lisa and like a lot of you – I’m a very busy mom! For full time work I’m a corporate trainer. In my spare time I hustle – side hustle that is! I do baby gear and equipment rentals in the San Antonio and Texas Hill Country areas with BabyQuip! I have 3 boys under 6 years old. I LOVE to travel and we travel as much as we can as a family. I love sharing all of the family travel hacks and tips I’ve come across over the years!
I think we play games just about every day but my son loves it when we play as a family after dinner and everyone is home. Love the idea of learning show and tell skills
I love that playing has benefits. I get to be a kid again and my child is happy too.
I never thought about this before! great infom.
Be prepared to have some successful days and some days that are failures.
You want to be one of those people, so never be afraid to take advantage of imaginative ideas.
Very nice article. I absolutely love this website. Continue
the good work!
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It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
My favorite family activities are baking cookies and playing board games. It brings the family together without the distraction of electronics.
Fantastic goods from you, This is actually a great website.
What’s up, this weekend is a pleasant time to put these to use.
So much fun to be had with the fam.
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Thank you and best of luck.
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I’m glad to read all of the benefits. I didn’t know it was so good for you but it makes sense.
I never thought of meeting new people as a family event but i thik putting yourself out there at children’s museums, parks or events is a good way to make new friends for you and your kids.
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I certainly enjoyed every little bit of it.
I’m saving this to my pinterest board.
I would have never thought of having a family show and tell. Love it.